United notches first stakes win in San Marcos

ARCADIA, Calif. – United needs time to find his best stride. When he does, United can make quite the impression.

Three times last fall, United closed well to nearly win a stakes, finishing a head behind Bricks and Mortar as a 51-1 outsider in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita in November.

United was later second by a neck as the even-money favorite in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup on Dec. 1 at Del Mar, closing from farther back than normal under jockey Flavien Prat.

Prat had United closer to the front in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita, and the outcome was United’s first stakes win in his 12th start.

“He broke sharp and he put me in the race,” Prat said. “I was a bit closer, and the pace was strong.”

United ($3.60) was fourth with a quarter-mile remaining and took the lead in the final furlong, holding off a late threat from 3-1 Cleopatra’s Strike to win by a half-length. Oscar Dominguez, who won the Hollywood Turf Cup, finished third, a neck behind Cleopatra’s Strike.

United finished 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.04 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

“Once he gets going, you can’t stop him,” Prat said.

“He wants to run all day.”

United was always within three lengths of the front in the $200,500 San Marcos. Brown Storm (16-1) set an early pace of 23.31 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.92 for a half-mile, leading by 1 1/2 lengths. United rallied wide to reach contention in early stretch.

United was in front of Cleopatra’s Strike and Oscar Dominguez on the turn, and that positioning made a significant difference. Cleopatra’s Strike closed with a wide move to finish well.

“He ran a good race,” jockey Abel Cedillo said. “He was fighting and fighting.”

Oscar Dominguez was last to the final furlong and rallied wide through the stretch. Brown Storm finished fourth, followed by Multiplier and Chosen Vessel.

United, by Giant’s Causeway, has won 4 of 12 starts and earned $1,013,549.

Owned by Larry, Nancy, and Jaime Roth and trained by Richard Mandella, United will be considered for the $6 million Sheema Classic at 1 1/2 miles on turf in Dubai on March 28, a distance Prat says would be a better fit. The BC Turf and Hollywood Turf Cup are run at 1 1/2 miles.